CNA --> RN. Worth it?

mmc51264, BSN, MSN, RN · May 6, 2017

I worked as a CNA all through nursing school. I did the ADN route, worked a year and then BSN online. TOTALLY worth it. Especially if you like being a CNA. I worked in home health so I had lots of one on one time with my clients. I really like that and I like that about nursing. If you are working LTC or in a hospital where you have a high pt load, you will like nursing. I say go for it!!!!!

oceanblue52 · May 6, 2017

It is worth it. Bedside nursing is one nursing specialty in a vast array of options. Stick with it if you can though, you will pick up on little bits of wisdom and clinical tips which will really serve you well in clinical and as a new grad. CNA skills are important but a tiny part of a nurses responsibilities. Take good care of that back, get a good pair of shoes, and insist on help if you need to work with a 2 person transfer.

calivianya, BSN, RN · May 6, 2017

I am personally doing the exact same amount of physical things as a RN that I did while I was working as a CNA. My unit doesn't have CNAs - it's RN total care - and I actually like it a lot better that way because I've had to deal with a ton of CNA attitude anywhere I've worked with CNAs. It's not worth the "help" I get to deal with the eye rolls.

No offense.

I know a lot of nurses who have had back surgery and knee replacements, and not all of them worked as CNAs first. Heck, half the time there aren't enough CNAs to do all the physical labor even on floors where there are CNAs, so you will still be rolling/lifting/helping with ambulating patients as a RN.

Honestly, if you're worried about your back, I'd say pick something other than nursing. My back was fine when I was a CNA - but four years into my nursing career, I'm usually so uncomfortable I have to take a NSAID or a sleeping pill to get comfortable enough to sleep at night because of my back. Being a RN does not mean back pain goes away. It also does not mean you're guaranteed to do less physical labor - because that's not true at all.

Maybe if you work in an outpatient setting, case management, or nursing administration you won't have to lift patients, but I guarantee you will still have a high degree of physical labor if you do direct patient care in the hospital. Just something to keep in mind.

Sour Lemon · May 6, 2017

I have frequent neck/back/shoulder pain that I never had before becoming a nurse sevenish years ago. I have never worked as a CNA.

Deep tissue massages help, and I'm sure strengthening my muscles wouldn't hurt ...but I know strong nurses who work out religiously and still have the same aches and pains that I do. The thing that seems to help the most is being in one's 20s, but I'm about 20 years too late to take advantage of that.

NuGuyNurse2b · May 6, 2017

it's not my back that hurts me, it's my feet. I keep buying shoes, and none seem to give me any relief. In fact, I feel like i have nerve damage on my one toe.

I think anytime you improve your position in life, it is worth it. However, I don't think everyone should be a nurse, even those with CNA experience. Are you ready to handle the emotional/psychological baggage that nursing school doesn't really tell you about, or barely prepares you for? Can you really put aside your religious/political beliefs and not judge some of the people who you will be taking care of? What about being the constant person who's being blamed for everything? I had a patient who is deathly afraid of needles. Needed a ct scan. we barely got a 24 gauge into her. CT scan said they needed at least a 20 gauge. We poke her, she's traumatized (again). Good blood flow. Comes back from CT scan, IV is occluded. Had to remove the 20 gauge. guess who got the earful from the patient and family? Hint: Not the CT tech who didn't clamp the IV after the test was done.

OlivetheRN, ADN, BSN, RN · May 6, 2017

I suppose that depends on what you consider "worth it." That is going to be different for everyone and will largely depend on your motivations for going into nursing. You say you don't know what else you would do, but don't say if you enjoy being a CNA outside of your displeasure and worries about the aches and pains you're experiencing now.

For what it's worth, terrible knees and backs run in my family. I had three knee surgeries before nursing school, two of those being in high school. My cousin, who is also a nurse and is my age, has had I think 5. Like you, I was kind of at a place were I didn't know what else I might do with my life outside of nursing, but I also genuinely enjoyed my job as a CNA and knew what I was getting my joints and back into and decided that yes, it was worth it.

With that being said, I do what I can to protect my back and joints. I work ER so there is a lot of lifting and moving, but I get help when it's needed and use the equipment we have. I am (or try to be) mindful of body mechanics. I wear good shoes and usually don't wear the same ones two shifts in a row if they're sneakers. And probably the best thing I did for my back and knees: I lost weight. They've been a heck of a lot happier since I'm not carrying around a lot of excess weight that I was. Don't get me wrong, I could lose a tad more, but it's something. Based on one of your questions above, I'm wondering if this might help you, too.

I don't think this is something anyone can really answer for you, you're the one who has to decide if it's personally worth it to you.

HelloWish, ADN, BSN · May 7, 2017

I was never a CNA. However, I found the level of physically demanding tasks as a bedside nurse overwhelming and incurred a back injury within 8 months of working as a nurse. Fortunately I was able to find a job at a outpatient oncology clinic as nurse at the 9 month mark. Bedside nursing is too physically demanding for me, but I am loving my new job! However, I do feel that my time spent at the bedside was a very valuable learning experience and I am glad I had that time.

vampiregirl, BSN, RN · May 7, 2017

I went the same route, CNA to RN. For me, totally worth it!

I guess I don't remember being bothered by the physical aspect of being a CNA, I will say I was in much better shape and a lot less fluffy when I was CNA than I am now. I'm also was lucky that my CNA instructor really reinforced the importance of proper body mechanics, so to this day I am very conscientious about that. Not that some days I'm not tired and achy, but I figure that is par for the job. I also enjoy caring for others, so this outweighs any physical discomfort I may experience.

In fact, I think it has made me a better nurse. Not only am I competent and comfortable performing many of the same tasks I performed as a CNA (positioning, transfers, ADLs etc) but I often "sneak" in my nursing assessments during patient care. I think it also contributed to being able to build a better rapport w/ my CNA's when I worked at a SNF and allows me to assist the CNA's I currently work with in hospice.

Having said all that though, you will have to figure out if this is what YOU want to do. Good luck in whatever you decide:)

ThePrincessBride, MSN, RN, NP · May 7, 2017

Obviously, it is worth it financially and career-wise as RNs have more options than a CNA. After working as a patient sitter, I began working as a nursing assistant making less than 10/hr base. From the jobs I had as a nursing assistant, I never made more than 14-15/hr (including differentials).

As an RN, between my contingent and FT jobs, I make anywhere from $24.50ish to $45/hr (and that isn't including overtime pay, holiday pay and any bonus/incentive pay that is sometimes offered). I work with newborns in my FT job and find the job isn't that physical, though my feet sometimes get tired from standing up and doing cares all day. My med/surg job, the contingent one, is different, but I don't work there often. It is physical, and I do everything that a tech does. Sometimes, I find myself "missing" a nursing assistant and end up doing most of the work anyway. :/

With a BSN, I have found that I have more doors open to me and could easily leave bedside nursing in another couple years for something like school nursing, case management, or even pursue an advanced education. I couldn't work as a CNA for life as the wages are absolute garbage and there are some nurses who think they are above doing any "dirty" work.

BSN16 · May 7, 2017

if you're thinking about bedside nursing, it doesn't get much better. My ICU unit gets maybe 1 aid if we're lucky. All patients are total care, all patients are 2+ assist. Being an RN encompasses all that being a CNA is plus more...you never get out of physically demanding aspect of healthcare even when you're a nurse.

kbrn2002, ADN, RN · May 8, 2017

Totally worth it. I started as a CNA and five years in I knew my body wouldn't survive a career's amount of that kind of abuse. Not to mention the money is really so much better. Don't get me wrong, in many ways being an RN is much harder than being a CNA. It's just a different kind of hard. Unless you someday land a desk job you will be on your feet for hours, but depending on where you work there's not nearly as much lifting, pulling and pushing. Not to mention as an RN you will have the opportunity to someday transition into that desk job when your body needs the break. You won't have that option as a CNA.